Disc dispenser

ABSTRACT

A number of antimicrobial impregnated discs are simultaneously dispensed into separate chambers of a partitioned cuvette, each containing a suspension of a bacterial broth, to determine which antimicrobial, antibacterial or antibiotic is the most suitable for treating the affected patient. The disc dispenser has a line of dispensing chutes disposed above the open tops of the cuvette chambers and a mechanism for receiving a disc from each of a line of supply tubes and dropping it into the dispensing chute. The upper ends of the dispensing chutes are open to permit visual confirmation that a disc has been discharged through each of the chutes. The dispensing mechanism may comprise an apertured sliding plate which may be unitary or divided in an array of individual dispensers. It is incorporated in a dispensing table on a hollow fixture which receives the cuvette. The fixture may include a pair of end sections and an operating plunger may be mounted in one of them.

United States Patent Curtiss Aug. 12, 1975 [54] DISC DISPENSER PrimaryExaminrHouston S. Bell, Jr [75] Inventor. Alan C. Curtiss, Old Lyme,Conn. I n y g n or connony and Hutz [73] Assignee: Pfizer Inc., NewYork, NY. g 22 Filed: Aug. 9, 1974 [57] ABSTRACT A number ofantimicrobial impregnated discs are si- [21] Appl' 496287 multaneouslydispensed into separate chambers of a Related US. Application Datapartitioned cuvette, each containing a suspension of a [63]continuatiomimpan of Ser No. 281,946 Aug 18, bacterial broth, -todetermine which antimicrobial, 1972, Pat No 33321532 antibacterial orantibiotic is the most suitable for treating the affected patient. Thedisc dispenser has a s2 U.S. c1. 141/325; 195/127; 221/93; line ofdispensing Chutes disposed above the p p 222/362 of the cuvette chambersand a mechanism for receiv- 51 1111.01 B65b 1/04; B65b 3/04 ing a discfrom each of a line of Snpply tubes and [58] Field of Search 221/93,198, 279; 133/4 R, dropping it into the dispensing chine- The pp ends133 5 R, 5 137 2 5; 23 259; 14 00 of the dispensing chutes are open topermit visual con- 83, 241, 237, 273, 319422 325, 326 firmation that adisc has been discharged through each 3 34, 2 4; 195 03 20 2 of thechutes. The dispensing mechanism may com- 222 132 134 13 139 362, 442prise an apertured sliding plate which may be unitary or divided in anarray of individual dispensers. It is in- 5 References Cited corporatedin a dispensing table on a hollow fixture UNITED STATES PATENTS whichreceives' the cuvette. The fixture may include a 3 300 087 H yp 221/93pa1r of end sections and an operating plunger may be 3:304:965 2/1967Tate 141 325 mounted m one of them" 3,372,7l7 3/1968 Fisher 141/325 21Claims, 21 Drawing Figures 1 r gh-r l mei mq' ll'lia lllii PATENTEDAUGI2% 3,899,611

DISC DISPENSER CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION, IF ANY Thisapplication is a continuation-in-part of copending commonly assignedpatent applications for US. Letters Patent: Ser. No. 281,946 filed Aug.18, 1972, now US. Pat. No. 3,832,532, by this same inventor inconjunction with three other inventors who were coinventors of otherportions of the invention disclosed and claimed therein but not the discdispenser portion being disclosed and claimed herein and Ser. No.437,700 filed .Ian. 29, 1974, by this same inventor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Mechanisms for dispensing antibioticsaturated discs from tubular cartridges are described in US. Pat. Nos.3,031,819, 3,032,179, 3,036,703 and 3,115,992 and Canadian Pat. No.687,149. Some of these dispensers simultaneously drop a number of discsinto a culture dish or into separate compartments of solutions forcomparing the effectiveness of the different antibiotics. Such multipledisc dispensers are subject to malfunctions which are significantbecause the failure to discharge even only one of the array of discsruins the test. An object of this invention is, therefore, to provide amultiple disc dispenser'for dispensing into anarray of sample solutions,which is dependable in operation and in which malfunctions may bereadily detected and corrected.

SUMMARY A number of antimicrobial impregnated discs are simultaneouslydispensed into separate chambers of a partitioned cuvette, eachcontaining a suspension of a bacterial broth, to determine whichantimicrobial, antibacterial or antibiotic is the most suitable fortreating the affected patient. The disc dispenser has a line ofdispensing chutes disposed above the open tops of the cuvette chambersand a mechanism for receiving a disc from each of a line of supply tubesand dropping it into the dispensing chute. The upper ends of thedispensing chutes are open to permit visual confirmation that a disc hasbeen discharged through each of the chutes. The dispensing mechanism maycomprise an apertured sliding plate which may be unitary or divided inan array of individual dispensers. It is incorporated in a dispensingtable on a hollow fixture which receives the cuvette. The fixture mayinclude a pair of end sections and an operating plunger may be mountedin one of them. The bodies of the individual dispensers may bealternately directed to provide space between them for the actuatingmechanism. A pair of sliding plates may be provided in the dispensingtable for locking the individual dispensers in their recesses andactuating them by an inclined cam surface. The locking plate lugs mayprovide a limit of travel for protecting the dispenser pms.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Novel features and advantages of thepresent invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art from areading of the following description in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings wherein similar reference characters refer tosimilar parts and in which:

FIG. I is a top plan view of a disc dispenser which is one embodiment ofthis invention, showing several of its complement of individual discdispensers installed in it;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the disc dispenser shown in FIG. 1holding a compartmented cuvette for receiving dispensed discs;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken through FIG. 1 along the line 33;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken through FIG. 1 along the line4-4;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken through FIG. 3 along the line 5-5in the unlocked nondispensing condition;

FIG. 6 is a fragmental cross-sectional view of a portion of FIG. 5 inthe locked position;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 5 in the dispensingposition;

FIG. 8 is a side view in elevation of one of the individual dispensersincorporated in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the individual dispenser shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 10 is a left-end elevational view of the individual dispenser shownin FIG. 2;

FIG. 1 1 is a right-end elevational view of the individual dispensershown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken through FIG. 9 along the line1212 in the unactuated condition;

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 12 in the actuatedcondition;

FIG. 14 is a top plan view of a ganged disc dispenser for use in theperformance of the method of this invention and which comprises oneapparatus aspect of this invention;

FIG. 15 is a front view in elevation of the dispenser shown in FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a right-end view of the dispenser shown in FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view taken through FIG. 14 along the line17--17;

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view taken through FIG. 15 along the line1818;

FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view taken through FIG. 14 along the line19-19 with the dispenser in the ready position;

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 19, but in thedispensing position; and

FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view taken through FIG. 20 along the line21-21.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIGS. 1-7 is shown anantibiotic disc dispenser 11 1 in which a number of individualself-contained dispensers l 15 are mounted on base fixture 116.Dispensers are accordingly mounted in sockets 118 disposed intablemechanism 119. Sockets 118 are comprised of substantiallyrectangular slots 120 in top plate 122 and tailed circular holes 125 inbottom plate 123 of dispensing table mechanism 119.

Individual dispenser 115 shown in FIGS. 9-13 includes chuted body withinwhich slide carriage 130 moves against the force of compression spring162 and upon which cover 164 is mounted on horn 166. Cartridge tube 39is inserted between internal contact ridges 169 in clamp 170 on thefront of cover 164 and contains weight 172 pushing down on feed clip 174which rests on the stack of antibiotic discs 16 to be discharged bydispenser 115 as later described.

Details of self-contained dispensers 115 are shown in FIGS. 9-1'3.Dispenser 115 is shown in an unactuated condition in FIGS. 9-12 with thereturn movement of slide carriage 130 arrested by tail plate 192 ofcover 164. The apertured end 194 of slide plate 195 remote from pin 128is thinner than the rear end 196 to dispose disc feeding aperture 198 ina thinner shouldered portion 194 of slide plate 195. This facilitatessmooth operation of slide carriage 130 and dependable feeding of discs16. The thicker rear portion 196 of slide plate 195 smoothly confinesdiscs 16 within tubular cartridge 39 which is inserted within shoulderedsocketed funnel 200 in body 160.

Weight 172 in tube 39 has a bottom stern 202 disposed against the bottomof angular U-shaped clip 174 to urge it downwardly. Weight 172 weighs,for example, 4 grams and clip 174 which is for example made of springmaterial such as beryllium copper, causes about 2 grams of frictionalresistance in rubbing against the inner walls of tubes 39, to leave aresultant 2 grams of force pushing down on the stack of discs 16. Points204 of clip 174 ratchet the downward movement of clip 174 and maintainthe stack of discs 16 firmly packet together. The disposition of stem202 of weight 172 on the bottom arm 206 of clip 174 clear of side arms208, prevents weight 172 from bending clip 174 and interfering with theefficient operation of clip 174. Dimple 210 at the center of bottom end206 of clip 174 is higher than slot 212 in body 160 through which slide130 passes to prevent clip 174 from dropping into aperture 198 andbinding operation of slide 130.

FIGS. 12 and 13 show the engagement of socket 214 within cover 164 overhorn 166 on body 160. Clearing hole 216 in the rear actuating end 217 ofslide carriage 130 passes over tapered guide shaft 218 on body 160 aboutwhich compression spring 162 is mounted. The rearward movement of slidecarriage 130 is arrested by tail plate 192 extending downwardly fromcover 164. Forward movement of slide 130 from the position shown in FIG.12 to that shown in FIG. 13 carries a disc 16 from the stack incartridge 39 over the open upper end 127 of chute 126 through which itis dropped. Dispenser 1 15 is shown being manually actuated by fingers222 in FIG. 13, which is the manner in which dispensers 115 areindividually used. Dispensers 115 are also capable of simultaneousmultiple operation when mounted on a supporting and actuating fixture asotherwise described herein. Semicircular portion 129 of the upper rim ofopen end 127 of chute 126 is chamfered to help direct discharged discs16 into chute 126.

The installation of individual disc dispensers 115 is illustrated inFIGS. l-4, showing chutes 126 disposed above cuvette 12 and itscorresponding upper ports 26 through which discs 16 are discharged intotubular disc holder 29 of cuvette compartments S -S Cuvette 12 is acompartmented container for inoculated broth used for measuring theeffect of antimicrobial agents on the growth of microorganisms in thebroth. The detection of growth in broth by forward light scatteringrequires such a chamber to be both optically transparent to theirradiating light used and geometrically consistent with the lightscattering photometer. Convenient and rapid examination of the efi'ectof many antimicrobial agents on the growth of a given microorganism isaccomplished by a linear array of such optical chambers as a singleunit, described in aforementioned copending application Ser. No.281,946, filed Aug. I8, 1971. Cuvette l2 permits the convenientintroduction of an equal volume of broth inoculum into each chamber S.Cuvette 12 also has the capability of conveniently accepting anantimicrobial impregnated paper disc into all test chambers and is notcapable of accepting such an antimicrobial disc in its-single controlchamber. Furthermore, cuvette 12 is water-tight, optically polished,optically reproducible, inexpensive, relatively small, stackable, andmay be disposable. Cuvette 12 is a linear array of one control chamber,S and 12 antimicrobial test chambers, 8 -12.

A row of lobes 15 extends the entire length of the long axis of thecuvette (excluding the reservoir). They are connected to the reservoirby a major distribution port 31, and accept broth inoculum from thereservoir by manually rotating the cuvette to lower them and cause equalamounts of solution to fill them through distributing ports 33 assistedby return flow of air through vents 35. The area of ports 33 increasesaway from reservoir R.

Thirteen disconnected light scattering lobes 17 of chambers S (S S Saccept an equal volume of broth inoculum from interconnecteddistributing lobes 15 by manually rotating the cuvette about its longaxis to lower them. Once filled with broth inoculum the thirteenchambers S are isolated from each other by the partitioning walls 36.Distributing ports 33 and air distribution vents 35, located at the topof each partition 36 and well above the broth level are the onlyinterconnections between the chambers. These vents are necessary forproper fluid distribution into lowered distributing lobes 15 asdescribed above.

Twelve apertured tubular fingers 29 extend down into the 12 testscattering chambers (S S S Each hollow finger, known as a disc holder,accepts an antimicrobial paper disc 16 (6.5 mm diameter) via 12 discports 26 on the top surface of cuvette 12. The disc drops into the discholder 29 and comes to rest on the floor 73 of this holder. Two elutionports, E, in the walls of the disc holder adjacent to the disc permitelution of antimicrobial agent into the surrounding broth innoculum ofthe scattering chamber. As shown in FIG. 16 (for reference only) a strip34 of flexible sealing material with twelve nipples 40 (called theclosure inserts) are inserted into the disc ports 26 to provide awatertight seal for each disc holder. Strip 34 is received betweenparallel rails 34a straddling ports 26 on the upper surface of cuvette12 and it is usually removed while cuvette 12 is inserted in cavity 50of dispenser 14. An L-shaped bracket B located on the back of cuvette 12and extending the length of the cuvette long axis enables the attachmentof the cuvette to holding brackets in processing analyzing equipment(not shown).

As shown in FIG. 3, cuvette 12 is aligned in its required position.under chutes 126 by insertion of legs 238 and 240 respectively withinleft-hand locating shoe 242 and right-hand locating shoe 244 into whichcuvette 12 is inserted by pushing it from front to back into chamber 246disposed between dispensing table assembly 119 and lower base platform248.

As shown inGFIGS. 3 and 4, dispensing table mechanism or assembly 1 19is comprised of an elongated aluminum extrusion 250 incorporating topplate 122 and bottom plate 123. Extrusion 250 also includes pairs ofopposed longitudinal grooves 252 and 254 disposed below bottom plate 123which receive sliding cam actuating plate 256 and locking plate 258,which are further described in FIGS. 5-7. Base platform 248 is primarilycomprised of an elongated channel 260 made of stainless steel,internally reinforced by aluminum tubes 262 which secure the lower ends264 and 266 of C- shaped end supports 268 together by threadedengagement by cap screws 270. The upper ends 272 and 274 of end supports268 are secured to extrusion 250 by cap screws 276. End supports 268 areidentical to each other, but the left-hand and right-hand installationsare inverted l80 with respect to each other. This disposes channel 278receiving operating plunger 280 at the top of right-hand end support268, and channel 278 is inoperatively disposed at the bottom 264 ofleft-hand end support 268. The outer open ends of end supports 268 arecovered by end sheets 281 which are removably held in place by lugs 282which are wedged against U- shaped clips 284 secured by the cap screws270 and 276 to the central securing wall 286 of end supports 268. Lugs282 are also wedged between a slight space not shown between the sidesof U-shaped clips 284 and the adjacent wall of end support 268.

FIG. 5 shows a locking plate 258 in the unlocked position for receivingchutes 126 of individual disc dispensers 115. Locking plate 258, is forexample, a thin framed rectangular plate formed of a relatively strongsheet material, such as polycarbonate resin. The use of a polycarbonateresin in the grooves of an aluminum extrusion provides a degree ofself-lubrication. L- shaped locking lugs 288 project within lockingplate 258 and have tips 290, which engage over locking lugs 124 onchutes 126. Wedges 292 shown in FIG. 3 are incorporated under lockingtips 290 for securely engaging over lugs 124 on chutes 126 to holdindividual disc dispensers 115 securely in place.

Locking plate 258 is moved back and forth from the unlocked to lockedpositions by upwardly extending peg 294, which is for example cast as anintegral part of locking plate 258. Peg 294 extends upwardly througharcuate slot 296 in top plate 122 which it maintains peg 294 and lockingplate 258 in its extremities in conjunction with the resiliency of peg294.

Cam actuating plate 256 is a thin framed rectangular sheet made ofpolycarbonate plastic, similarly to sheet 258, and it includes sloped orinclined cam surface 298 of rounded saw tooth or triangular formextending inwardly within its central opening 300. Camactuating plate isurged to the left extremity of travel in the nondispensing positionshown in FIG. 5 by coil springs 302 secured to end supports 268 overlugs 304. Dispensing actuation of cam plate 256 to the right isaccomplished by pushing plunger 280 downwardly, as shown by arrow 306 inFIG. 3, which pulls cam plate 256 to the right through flexible strap308 connecting the righthand side of cam plate 256 to the bottom 310 ofplunger 280. Flexible cable 308 is of a strip of a strong flexiblematerial, such as nylon-coated stainless steel cable or other suitableflexible material.

The operation of dispenser 111 is easily accomplished after individualdispensers 115 are installed, as shown in FIGS. 5-7. Main dispenser 111is unlocked for receiving individual dispensers 115. FIG. 6 shows theposition of locking plate 258 in the left-hand or locking position inwhich peg 294 is in the left hand side of arcuate slot 296 and lockinglugs 288 are moved in line with chutes 126 of dispenser and inengagement over locking lugs 124 on chutes 126.

The dispensing position of dispenser 111 is shown in FIG. 7 in which camplate 256 is moved to the right by downward pressure of plunger 280 topull connecting cable 308 to the right in the direction of arrow 312.Movement of cam plate 256 to the right forces saw toothed cam elements298 against dispenser-operating pins 128 to force them inwardly withinframed opening 300 to operate individual dispensers 115 in the mannerpreviously described. Visual observation and verification that discshave been discharged from each of dispensers 115 and into ports 26 ofcuvette 12 is afforded by the open tops 127 of chutes 126 which areexposed at the top of dispenser table assembly 119 on the upper portionof dispenser 111. Any jams which might occur, can also be easily clearedthrough exposed tops 127 of dispensing chutes 126. FIG. 1 also has aLOCK direction indicia 314 and individual dispenser numbers 316 tofacilitate locking and unlocking and coordination of the type of discsin each individual dispenser.

Dispensers 115 may be easily reloaded by removing cartridge tubes 39 andreplacing them in the manner previously described. Only two individualdispensers are shown in solid outline installed in main dispenser 111 inFIGS. 1-4. One additional individual dispenser 115 is shown in FIGS. 1-3to indicate the manner in which the full complement of individualdispensers 1 15 is installed.

Disc dispenser 14 shown in FIGS. 14-21 conveniently and .rapidlyintroduces a single antimicrobial impregnated paper disc 16 into each ofthe l2 (or less if desired) disc holders 29 of cuvette 12 with theentire panel of discs added simultaneously by a simple manualmanipulationfThe upper plate section 38 of the freestanding dispenser 14accepts a maximum of 12 cartridges 39 containing antimicrobial discs 16.Glass cartridges 39 are identical to those currently being used forKirby-Bauer discs. The lower plate section 41 of dispenser 14 contains atrack guide 48 which accepts a cuvette 12 in .upright position. Upperplate 38 and lower plate 41 are joined in a channel form by rearvertical wall 43. Cuvette 12 is inserted on track 48 into cavity 50until stop 45 is reached. The top of cuvette 12 is guided by insertionof the parallel rails 34a in slot 27a in the bottom of plate 27 laterdescribed. Another slot 27b is provided in the bottom of plate 27 forpassage of inoculum tube 78. The middle section 47 of the dispenser 14has mechanism 49 somewhat similar to that shown in US. Pat. Nos.3,031,819, 3,036,703 and 3,115,992, whichupon actuation of a lever 51,slides a single disc 16 out of each cartridge 39 and drops the disc 16into the tubular disc holder 29 of the cuvette. In this manner, 12 discscan be simultaneously added to a cuvette.

Cartridge tubes 39 are inserted through holes 19 in upper plate 38 andadjacent support plate 21 and spacer plate 23. Midsection 47 includesspaced horizontal guide plates 25 and 27 between which slide plate 37reciprocates. Upper plate 25 includes counterbored holes 52 whichreceive the bottom ends of cartridge 39. Slide plate 37 includes holes53 which receive discs 16 from tubes 39 and drop them through holes 55in plate 27 into ports 26 in cuvette 12. Viewing slot 21a allows theuser to monitor operation and to easily clear jamming through holes 530in plate 25 caused by any malfunctions, such as jamming of a disc 16 ina hole 55 in plate 27. Plate 37 is reciprocated by lever 51 throughsplined shaft 57. Racks 59 energizing splined shaft 57 are connected tothe ends of slide plate 37 to move it back and forth by lever 51.Compression springs 61 react between vertical wall 43 and the rear edgeof slide plate 37 to return it to the receiving position.

I claim:

1. A disc dispenser for dispensing discs from cartridges to acompartmented container having an array of compartments having topopenings for insertion of said discs, said dispenser comprising a basefixture, a dispensing table mechanism mounted upon said base fixture,said dispensing table mechanism having an array of upper and lower holesoffset a predetermined distance from each other, cartridge-supportingmeans disposed on said dispensing table mechanism for holding saidcartridges above said upper holes for successively dispensing discs intothem, an apertured dispensing plate means mounted in said dispensingtable mechanism for sliding movement from alignment with said upperholes to alignment with said lower holes, drive means connected to saiddispensing table mechanism for moving said dispensing plate means fromone said alignment to the other whereby discs received from said upperholes are carried and dropped into said lower holes, a compartmentedcontainer-receiving chamber disposed under said dispensing tablemechanism and within said base fixture for holding said compartmentedcontainer with its apertures aligned with said lower holes to cause saiddiscs dispensed through said lower holes to drop into said compartmentsin said container, and auxiliary apertures in said dispensing tablemechanism subatantially aligned with said lower holes to permit visualverification of dispensed discs and to facilitate clearing discs whichmay jam in said lower holes.

2. A disc dispenser as set forth in claim 1 wherein said dispensingtable mechanism comprises a pair of upper and lower spaced parallelapertured plates, said array of upper holes being disposed in said upperapertured plate and said lower holes being disposed in said lowerapertured plate, said dispensing table mechanism also comprising anapertured dispensing plate mounted inbetween said spaced parallelapertured plates for sliding movement from alignment with said upperholes to alignment with said lower holes.

3. A disc dispenser as set forth in claim 2 wherein saidcartridge-supporting means comprises a top apertured plate disposed ashort distance above said spaced parallel plates.

4. A disc dispenser as set forth in claim 3 wherein said auxiliaryapertures are provided in said top apertured plate.

5. A disc dispenser as set forth in claim 1 wherein said dispensingtable mechanism has a plurality of sockets for receiving individual discdispensers, an individual disc dispenser being disposable in each ofsaid sockets, each of said individual disc dispensers incorporating saidupper and lower holes, a locking means on the dispensing table mechanismfor engaging said individual disc dispensers in said sockets andsecuring them to said dispensing table mechanism said drive means beingconnected with said individual disc dispensers whereby said discdispensers are simultaneously operated to dispense discs from each ofthe individual disc dispensers and discharge them into saidcompartmented container.

6. A disc dispenser as set forth in claim 5 wherein each of said discdispensers incorporates a body extending laterally therefrom, and saidsockets being constructed and arranged for disposing the bodies of discdispensers installed in said sockets in alternate directions wherebyspace is provided therebetween for actuating said dispensers.

7. A disc dispenser as set forth in claim 5 wherein said dispensingtable mechanism incorporates a top apertured receiving plate and a lowerbase plate for holding the bodies of said dispensers and supportingthem.

8. A disc dispenser as set forth in claim 7 wherein a sliding lockingplate having a plurality of locking surfaces is incorporated in saiddispensing table mechanism for engaging said individual dispensers andholding them securely in position for dispensing discs.

9. A disc dispenser as set forth in claim 8 wherein each of saidindividual dispensers has a locking projection extending laterally fromit, and said sliding locking plate comprises a locking frame platemember having a plurality of locking lugs disposed within it forengaging said locking projections on said individual dispensers.

10. A disc dispenser as set forth in claim 9 wherein said locking frameplate member has a plurality of L- shaped lugs extending inwardly withinit.

11. A disc dispenser as set forth in claim 5 wherein each of saidindividual disc dispensers has an actuating pin, and said drive meanscomprises a sliding cam plate having a plurality of cam elements withone of said cam elements operatively engaging each of said actuatingpins.

12. A disc dispenser as set forth in claim 10 wherein said sliding camplate comprises a substantially rectangular cam frame plate, said camelements comprise sloped surfaces extending inwardly within said camframe plate.

13. A disc dispenser as set forth in claim 12 wherein a framed lockingplate having a plurality of locking lugs extending inwardly thereforrnis disposed adjacent said cam frame plate, said framed locking platehaving a plurality of L-shaped lugs extending inwardly within it.

14. A disc dispenser as set forth in claim 5 wherein said drive meanscomprises a plunger, end supports on said base fixture, a channel in oneof said supports for receiving said plunger, and a connecting drivelinkage connected between said dispensing table mechanism and saidplunger for actuating said dispensing table mechanism.

15. A disc dispenser as set forth in claim 14 wherein said connectingdrive linkage comprises a flexible cable.

16. A disc dispenser as set forth in claim 5 wherein said compartmentedcontainer-receiving chamber comprises a lower base plate spaced belowsaid dispensing table mechanism a sufiicient distance to receive saidcompartmented container therebetween, and aligning lugs on said baseplate for holding said compartmented container in alignment with theholes in the dispensing table mechanism.

17. A ganged antibiotic disc dispenser for supplying antibiotic discsfrom cartridges to a compartmented container having an array ofcompartments each having an aperture for insertion of said antibioticdiscs, said dispenser comprising a base, a pair of upper and lowerparallel spaced apertured plates mounted upon said base, said pair orparallel spaced apertured plates each having an array of holes offset apredetermined distance from each other, an apertured dispensing platemounted inbetween said spaced plates for sliding movement from alignmentwith one of said array of holes to alignment with the other, drive meanson said base for moving said dispensing plate from one said alignment tothe other whereby discs received from said upper spaced plate arecarried and dropped into said lower spaced plate, a compartmentedcontainer receiving chamber disposed between said base and said lowerspaced plate for holding said compartmented container with its aperturesaligned with the apertures in said lower spaced plate to cause said discdispensed through said lower spaced plate to drop into said compartmentin said container, cartridge supporting'means disposed on said baseabove said spaced plates for holding said cartridges above the aperturesin said upper spaced plate to successively dispense discs into it, andauxiliary apertures in the said upper spaced plate substantially alignedwith said apertures in said lower spaced plate to facilitate clearingdiscs which may jam in said apertures of said lower spaced plate.

18. A ganged antibiotic disc dispenser as set forth in claim 17 whereinsaid cartridge supporting means comprises an upper apertured platedisposed a short distance above said spaced plates.

19. A ganged antibiotic disc dispenser as set forth in claim 18 whereinsaid base and said upper apertured plate are comprised of a pair ofhorizontal plates joined by a substantially vertical wall to comprise achannel, said pair of spaced plates and said drive means being connectedto said substantially vertical wall, and an access opening beingprovided in said channel to provide access to said auxiliary aperturesfor inspection and clearing.

20. A ganged antibiotic disc dispenser as set forth in claim 19 whereinupper and lower slotted bars are provided in said receiving space foraligning said apertures in said compartmented container under saidspaced parallel spaced plates.

21. A ganged antibiotic disc dispenser as set forth in claim 17 whereinsaid drive means comprises a splined shaft engaged with a pair of racksconnected to the sides of said apertured dispensing plate.

1. A disc dispenser for dispensing discs from cartridges to acompartmented container having an array of compartments having topopenings for insertion of said discs, said dispenser comprising a basefixture, a dispensing table mechanism mounted upon said base fixture,said dispensing table mechanism having an array of upper and lower holesoffset a predetermined distance from each other, cartridge-supportingmeans disposed on said dispensing table mechanism for holding saidcartridges above said upper holes for successively dispensing discs intothem, an apertured dispensing plate means mounted in said dispensingtable mechanism for sliding movement from alignment with said upperholes to alignment with said lower holes, drive means connected to saiddispensing table mechanism for moving said dispensing plate means fromone said alignment to the other whereby discs received from said upperholes are carried and dropped into said lower holes, a compartmentedcontainer-receiving chamber disposed under said dispensing tablemechanism and within said base fixture for holding said compartmentedcontainer with its apertures aligned with said lower holes to cause saiddiscs dispensed through said lower holes to drop into said compartmentsin said container, and auxiliary apertures in said dispensing tablemechanism subatantially aligned with said lower holes to permit visualverification of dispensed discs and to facilitate clearing discs whichmay jam in said lower holes.
 2. A disc dispenser as set forth in claim 1wherein said dispensing table mecHanism comprises a pair of upper andlower spaced parallel apertured plates, said array of upper holes beingdisposed in said upper apertured plate and said lower holes beingdisposed in said lower apertured plate, said dispensing table mechanismalso comprising an apertured dispensing plate mounted inbetween saidspaced parallel apertured plates for sliding movement from alignmentwith said upper holes to alignment with said lower holes.
 3. A discdispenser as set forth in claim 2 wherein said cartridge-supportingmeans comprises a top apertured plate disposed a short distance abovesaid spaced parallel plates.
 4. A disc dispenser as set forth in claim 3wherein said auxiliary apertures are provided in said top aperturedplate.
 5. A disc dispenser as set forth in claim 1 wherein saiddispensing table mechanism has a plurality of sockets for receivingindividual disc dispensers, an individual disc dispenser beingdisposable in each of said sockets, each of said individual discdispensers incorporating said upper and lower holes, a locking means onthe dispensing table mechanism for engaging said individual discdispensers in said sockets and securing them to said dispensing tablemechanism said drive means being connected with said individual discdispensers whereby said disc dispensers are simultaneously operated todispense discs from each of the individual disc dispensers and dischargethem into said compartmented container.
 6. A disc dispenser as set forthin claim 5 wherein each of said disc dispensers incorporates a bodyextending laterally therefrom, and said sockets being constructed andarranged for disposing the bodies of disc dispensers installed in saidsockets in alternate directions whereby space is provided therebetweenfor actuating said dispensers.
 7. A disc dispenser as set forth in claim5 wherein said dispensing table mechanism incorporates a top aperturedreceiving plate and a lower base plate for holding the bodies of saiddispensers and supporting them.
 8. A disc dispenser as set forth inclaim 7 wherein a sliding locking plate having a plurality of lockingsurfaces is incorporated in said dispensing table mechanism for engagingsaid individual dispensers and holding them securely in position fordispensing discs.
 9. A disc dispenser as set forth in claim 8 whereineach of said individual dispensers has a locking projection extendinglaterally from it, and said sliding locking plate comprises a lockingframe plate member having a plurality of locking lugs disposed within itfor engaging said locking projections on said individual dispensers. 10.A disc dispenser as set forth in claim 9 wherein said locking frameplate member has a plurality of L-shaped lugs extending inwardly withinit.
 11. A disc dispenser as set forth in claim 5 wherein each of saidindividual disc dispensers has an actuating pin, and said drive meanscomprises a sliding cam plate having a plurality of cam elements withone of said cam elements operatively engaging each of said actuatingpins.
 12. A disc dispenser as set forth in claim 10 wherein said slidingcam plate comprises a substantially rectangular cam frame plate, saidcam elements comprise sloped surfaces extending inwardly within said camframe plate.
 13. A disc dispenser as set forth in claim 12 wherein aframed locking plate having a plurality of locking lugs extendinginwardly thereform is disposed adjacent said cam frame plate, saidframed locking plate having a plurality of L-shaped lugs extendinginwardly within it.
 14. A disc dispenser as set forth in claim 5 whereinsaid drive means comprises a plunger, end supports on said base fixture,a channel in one of said supports for receiving said plunger, and aconnecting drive linkage connected between said dispensing tablemechanism and said plunger for actuating said dispensing tablemechanism.
 15. A disc dispenser as set forth in claim 14 wherein saidconnecting drive linkage comprises a flexible cable.
 16. A discdispenser as seT forth in claim 5 wherein said compartmentedcontainer-receiving chamber comprises a lower base plate spaced belowsaid dispensing table mechanism a sufficient distance to receive saidcompartmented container therebetween, and aligning lugs on said baseplate for holding said compartmented container in alignment with theholes in the dispensing table mechanism.
 17. A ganged antibiotic discdispenser for supplying antibiotic discs from cartridges to acompartmented container having an array of compartments each having anaperture for insertion of said antibiotic discs, said dispensercomprising a base, a pair of upper and lower parallel spaced aperturedplates mounted upon said base, said pair or parallel spaced aperturedplates each having an array of holes offset a predetermined distancefrom each other, an apertured dispensing plate mounted inbetween saidspaced plates for sliding movement from alignment with one of said arrayof holes to alignment with the other, drive means on said base formoving said dispensing plate from one said alignment to the otherwhereby discs received from said upper spaced plate are carried anddropped into said lower spaced plate, a compartmented containerreceiving chamber disposed between said base and said lower spaced platefor holding said compartmented container with its apertures aligned withthe apertures in said lower spaced plate to cause said disc dispensedthrough said lower spaced plate to drop into said compartment in saidcontainer, cartridge supporting means disposed on said base above saidspaced plates for holding said cartridges above the apertures in saidupper spaced plate to successively dispense discs into it, and auxiliaryapertures in the said upper spaced plate substantially aligned with saidapertures in said lower spaced plate to facilitate clearing discs whichmay jam in said apertures of said lower spaced plate.
 18. A gangedantibiotic disc dispenser as set forth in claim 17 wherein saidcartridge supporting means comprises an upper apertured plate disposed ashort distance above said spaced plates.
 19. A ganged antibiotic discdispenser as set forth in claim 18 wherein said base and said upperapertured plate are comprised of a pair of horizontal plates joined by asubstantially vertical wall to comprise a channel, said pair of spacedplates and said drive means being connected to said substantiallyvertical wall, and an access opening being provided in said channel toprovide access to said auxiliary apertures for inspection and clearing.20. A ganged antibiotic disc dispenser as set forth in claim 19 whereinupper and lower slotted bars are provided in said receiving space foraligning said apertures in said compartmented container under saidspaced parallel spaced plates.
 21. A ganged antibiotic disc dispenser asset forth in claim 17 wherein said drive means comprises a splined shaftengaged with a pair of racks connected to the sides of said apertureddispensing plate.